SEO gets you ranked on Google; GEO gets you cited by the AIs. You need both now.
They are two halves of being found, not rivals. The same good content feeds both, with a few different signals.
Scroll sideways to see all columns.
| Aspect | SEO | GEO |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | Rank in Google results | Get named in AI answers |
| Surface | Search results page | ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity |
| Wins on | Keywords, links, on-page | Clarity, authority, citations |
| Measured by | Rankings and clicks | Mentions and citations |
When to focus on which
- Do both. One good page can win in both at once.
- Lean SEO if most of your demand still comes from Google search.
- Lean GEO if buyers increasingly ask AIs for recommendations.
Net-net: Do not choose. The same trustworthy, clear page that ranks on Google is the one the AIs quote. Build that, and you win both.
Frequently asked questions
Is GEO replacing SEO?
No. They run side by side. SEO gets you ranked on Google; GEO gets you cited by the AIs, and the same trustworthy pages tend to win in both.
Should a small business do SEO or GEO first?
Start with SEO if most demand still comes from Google search. Add GEO as buyers increasingly ask AIs for recommendations. The work overlaps heavily.
Do SEO and GEO need different content?
Mostly the same content, with a few extra signals for GEO: clear self-contained answers, clean structure and schema so AIs can quote you easily.